Hand warmer



March 2, 1954 J, w- SMITH 2,670,728

HAND WARMER Filed March 28, 1952 u f' i M1 di.)

| N V E N T O R JCHN W. SMITH ATTORNEYS Mgmx Patented Mar. 2, 1954UNITED s 'rrrtzsv PATENT "OFFICE HAND WARMER John W.` Smith,lMinneapolis, Minn. ApplicationMarch 28, 1952, Serial No, v.279,119

z claims. (Cl. liaise-ail,` l

invention relates to hand warmers and has forlan object to provide awarmer adapted to pro--V duce heat at a moderate temperature.

.e still further object of the invention residesinproviding ar warmerwhich is easy to start and which willcontinue to'function withoutinterruption.

4'.nother object of the invention resides in providing a burner in whichcombustion occurs uniformly. throughout the extent thereof.

A Still further object of the invention resides in providing a burnerhaving a core helical in form and formed with spaced convolutions and onthe. convolutions of which is wound an elongated flexible Vfibrouscombustion promoting member containing a catalytic agent and envelopedby a'pervious tubular fibrous combustion member having intersticestherein communicatingwith thespaces between said convolutions.

Other objectsV of the invention reside in the., novel; combination andarrangement of parts and inthe, detailswof construction hereinafterillustiated and/or described.

the drawings:

Fig. l'isfa front elevational view of a hand warmer illustrating anembodiment of vmy invention with a portionthereof broken away.

"Fig, 2 is a plan view of thev burnerremoved from the hand warmer.v

3 isa perspective` View. of the parts of the; invention detached Vfromone another.

Fig. i is an enlarged elevational sectional View offapo'rtion oftheburner taken on linel 4 4 of Fig. 5 is a crossk sectional view taken vonlinef 6 is aview similar to Fig. i of a modifica-v tion o fl theinvention.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional View similar t0 Fig, l5*

tale on` line 'If-1 of Fig. 6.

`lThe construction shown in the'drawings; consistsA of a receptacle forliquid fuel constructed with a vbody formed with a neck and containingan absorbent adapted to hold a quantity of liquid fuel. Qnk the neck ismounted a housing supporting the. burner o f the invention-` The burnerconsists of a core constructed of wirev and wound with spacedconvolutions.l In one form of the invention an elongated combustionpromoting member constructed from asbestos, or some similarv material,is impregnated with a catalytic agent andwound on theexteriorof thevcore. AIn anotherformof the invention an elongated iieir ible embiaiienpromoting member is, www.. di: rctly on the cnvolutiensfqi the .ceretoVV enciogieL the. same. In both cases spaces -are formed. be?. tweenthe convolutions.l through which air and fumes from the liquid fuel maypass. Encircling the combustion promoting member so formed; is!l asecond combustion promoting member con-f structed of pervious tubularfibrous material have ingl interstices therein communicating with the,spaces between the convolutions of the. firstV named combustionpromoting member. .A vcan,` encloses the burner and is mountedon thetop; of the receptacle.

The instant invention comprises a receptacle.A lp for liquid fuel whichconsists of a body. l .v stamped from sheet metal and formedA with sidesl2,v ends I3*I and a bottom. I4. The upperend ci; thebody Il is open andhas attached to ita top.

' lwhich has a flanged] of the same coniig-ura` tion .as the body I lvbut slightly smaller in diiiien?1 sionsA and which `is pressed into thevupper @2nd-702' the body lllV to frictionally hold the parts ate,tachedy to one another. Thev topV I 5 has formed on it a neck Il which.has an opening I8 in the.,v same serving as an outlet for the fumesfrom;v liquid fuel contained within the` receptacle. L0.

'Ilhe interior. of .the 'receptacle Ill-v islledfwith.

absorbent, such as cotton, which isl infclicatedv atA |59 and whichholds the liquid fuel introduced.V intethe receptacle ythrough theopening i8,y The absorbent vprevents the fuel from` spilling. fueltravels byr capillary attraction to the lipperx portion .of the cottonwhere. the fumes yfrom the liquiiifu, pass' outwardly through theopnirfie- Il, intheneckll. l The invention includesa burner 2 2 which,.in the form of the` invention shown in Fig. conf? sistsof an elongatedflexible combustion 'pronfiov ing"k member 2`3. which constructed ofasbestos or some other similar fibrous material. 'Ilfiis combustionpromoting member is provided withv a.v catalytic agent which isincorporated thereinf, Thisinay be accomplished in several ways.combustion promoting members n-iayv be tumbled inav tumbler or pebblemill with. .powdered'pala` ladium oxide, also known as palladium,blaclg, the vparticles of the palladium arewel-l: interspersed withL thefibers vof the combustion-l promoting members. If desired,y platinummeldel alsolinown: at platinum black, may be used.y The, fibers of thecombustion promoting Vmemloer-s;A may.- also .be coated with thecatalytic agent. 'Ihe aebestosiis immersedv in .a fivevto ten percent4Solution 0f Platini@ chloride 0r palladium. @11191, ride. Aftersaturation the asbestge, is* heatedftq @temperature of. about .1.200degrees @restreinte water the idue into a substance ordinarily known atplatinum black or palladium black. This substance serves as a catalyticagent which aids in oxidation of the fumes from the liquid fuel andcauses combustion at a relatively slow rate and at a low temperature.

.The combustion promoting member 23 is mounted upon a core 24. Core 24is constructed of wire which is coiled to form a helix 25 having spacedconvolutions 26. For supporting the core 24 a housing 29 is employedwhich is mounted on the neck |1 of body This housing is tubular in formhaving a tubular skirt 39 Which fits over and frictionally engages theneck |1 of top to hold the burner detachably secured to the receptacleI0. The housing 29 is formed with arms 3! at its ends which extendupwardly therefrom. These arms are spaced from one another to provideopenings 32 in the housing 29 and which serve to admit air to thecombustion promoting member. The two arms are connected together attheir upper ends by means of a bar 33. Louvers 23 are provided in thearms 3| for entry of air to the burner 22 and which are struck out ofthe arms 3| of the housing. These louvers also form projections whichassist in removal of the burner. The core 24 is normally compressed sothat the resiliency of the same urges the ends 21 of the same againstthe arms 3|. The combustion promoting member 23 is wound upon theexterior of the convolutions 26 of core 24. If the helix 25 is aright-hand helix the convolutions are wound in a marmer to form aleft-hand helix whereby convolutions 34 arek formed on the combustionpromoting member 23 and which crossthe convolutions 26. The convolutions34 are also spaced from one another to provide passageways 35therebetween and through which air may circulate aout said convolutions.The ends of the combustion promoting member 23 are held attached to thecore 24 by pinching the same between the end convolutions 36 and 31 ofthe core 24.

Encircling the combustion promoting member 23 is a second combustionpromoting member 38 which is tubular in form. This combustion promotingmember is constructed of woven strands of high temperature spun glassand of asbestos or asbestos alone formed with interstices or meshestherebetween. The tube is immersed for about ten minutes in a tenpercent solution of plantinic chloride dissolved in isopropynol alcohol.The tube is then removed and air dried till dry. After' drying by airthe tube is baked in an oven at about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit until thechloride becomes converted into metallic platinum, also known asplatinum black. Palladium chloride may also be used. After the tube hasbeen so prepared a length of the same is cut off to form the combustionpromoting member 38 which is then slipped over the combustion prometingmember 23. The entire burner is then inserted into the housing 29 withthe ends 21 of the core 24 engaging arms, 3|. ditionally supported bymeans of two flanges 39 which are bent inwardly from the upper ends ofthe skirt 39 at the openings 32 and which engageV the undersides of thesaid burner. The burner isV forced through the space between theseflanges Which is made possible through the resiliency of the combustionpromoting members 23 and 38,

and when properly inserted becomes securely lodged in position.

The -burneris adeV Il. This cap fits over the protruding portion 4| ofthe top l5 and frictionally engages the same and is thus held detachablymounted thereon. This cap has a number of Ventilating openings 42therein by means of which air may reach the burner to support combustionof the fuel at the burner.

In use the receptacle I9 is filled with a suitable liquid fuel such asnaptha, benzene, heptane or related compounds or alcohol. This fuel islled through the opening |8 in neck I1 and absorbed by the cotton I9.The burner 22 mounted in housing 29 is mounted on the neck |1 by forcingthe skirt 30 over said neck. The burner 22 is next heated by a match ora cigarette lighter until the fumes of the yfuel which evaporates fromthe upper portion of the cotton I9 combine with the oxygen of the air bycombustion in the presence of the catalyst. The heat so generated aidsin vaporizing the fuel and after ignition the heat produced by theburning fuel aids vaporization and the vapor continues to burn in thepresence of the catalyst giving the burner a dull red glow. Thecatalytic agent formed on the combustion members aids in maintainingcombustion and causes combustion to take place at a slow rate.Combustion is supported by the air entering the interior of the cap 40through the openings 42. rEhe heat produced by the combustion elementwarms the cap 40 and also the receptacle giving off heat at a very lowtemperature so that the device can be readily held in the hand withoutdanger of burning or excessive discomfort. The hand Warmer may be placedin the pocket or giove of the user and produces suflicient heat toprevent numbness or discomfort to the user in cool weather.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modification of the invention has been shown. Due tothe similarity of the construction of this form of the invention withthat previously described, the decription of the similar .parts thereofwill not be repeated andthe same reference numerals preceded by thedigit "1 will be used to designate corresponding parts.

In this form of the invention the vconvolutionsv |23 of the core |24 areconsiderably spaced and the combustion member |23 wound directly upon:these convolutions. In this manner the combustion member is formed withconvolutions 43" which conjointly form a helix 44. The end convolution|31 of the core |24 is brought into closeproximity next to the endconvolution |31 permitting of pinching the end of the combustion member|23 therebetween and holdingrthe same.ev attached to the core. Core |24in this form 'of the invention is attached to the housing |29 in the"same manner as in the other form of the inven-v tion. The secondcombustion member |38 en-` circles the helix 44 and is constructed thesamek as described in conjunction with the inventionl shown in Fig. 4. i

The advantages of the invention are manifestf The burner is extremelysimple in constructionl and can readily be manufactured at an economi-yycal cost. By the use of the two combustion; members greater area isprocured without changing the size of the burner. With the herein disAvclosed invention combustion is more readily main-f tained and occursuniformly throughoutv thel burner, thereby giving oi more heat andoperata; ing in a more highly efficient manner. Changes in the specificform of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scopeof what is claimed without departing fromF the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including asupport, an elongated fibrous catalytic combustion promoting membermounted on said support and formed with convolutions providingpassageways therebetween and through which the fumes may pass and apervious tubular fibrous catalytic combustion promoting member havinginterstices therein and enveloping said first named combustion promotingmember, said interstices communicating with said passageways.

2. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including asupport, a core mounted on said support, an elongated flexible fibrouscatalytic combustion promoting member wound on said core to form spacedconvolutions providing passageways therebetween and through which fumesmay pass and a pervious tubular fibrous catalytic combustion promotingmember having meshes therein and enveloping said convolutions, saidmeshes communicating with said passageways.

3. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a :burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including aframe supported on said receptacle and having arms extending outwardlytherefrom, a helical core carried by said support and extending betweensaid arms said core having spaced convolutions, an elongated flexiblefibrous catalytic combustion promoting member wound about the individualconvolutions of the core to form a helix encircling said convolutionsand providing passageways therebetween through which the fumes may passand a pervious tubular fibrous catalytic combustion promoting memberhaving meshes therein and enveloping said convolutions, said meshescommunicating with said passageways.

4. A burner for hand warmers comprising a core, an elongated flexiblefibrous catalytic combustion promoting member wound on said core to formspaced convolutions providing passageways therebetween and through whichfumes may pass, and a pervious tubular fibrous catalytic combustionpromoting member having meshes therein and enveloping said convolutions,said meshes communicating with said passageways.

5. A burner for hand warmers comprising a support, an elongated fibrouscatalytic combustion promoting member mounted on said support and formedwith convolutions providing passageways therebetween and through whichthe fumes may pass and a pervious tubular fibrous catalytic combustionpromoting member having interstices therein and enveloping said firstnamed combustion promoting member, said interstices communicating withsaid passageways.

6. A burner for hand warmers comprising a core constructed from a wirein the form of a helix with Widely spaced convolutions, an elongatedflexible rope like fibrous catalytic strip of material closely woundabout the individual convolutions of the core to form on the core a helical combustion member, helical with respect to the axis of the core andalso with respect to the axis of the wire and having spaced convolutionsproviding spaces therebetween approximating the diameter of theconvolutions and through which the fumes may pass and a pervious tubularbrous catalytic combustion promoting member having interstices thereinand enveloping said first named combustion promoting member, saidinterstices communicating with said passageways.

7. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the oulet of said receptacle, said burner including asupport, an elongated fibrous catalytic combustion promoting membermounted on said support and formed with convolutions providingpassageways therebetween and through which the fumes may pass, saidpassageways being of a width approximating the longitudinal dimensionsof said convolutions and a pervious tubular fibrous catalytic combustionpromoting member having interstices therein and enveloping said firstnamed combustion promoting member, said interstices communicating withsaid passageways.

JOHN WM. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,347,631 Herck July 27, 1920 1,711,965 Pratt May 7, 19292,493,266 Schmitt Jan. 3, 1950 2,579,620 Smith Dec. 25, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 383,440 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1932

